BMW Announces Plans to Produce NEUE KLASSE EVs in China From 2026

Following the market launch in 2025, BMW Group says models of the next vehicle generation, called NEUE KLASSE, will also be produced from 2026 onwards in Shenyang, China. The announcement was made as BMW marked the 20th anniversary of the BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. (BBA) joint venture in China.

BBA also announced plans to invest RMB 10 billion in construction of assembly plant for sixth-generation high-voltage batteries in China.

The plant will play a key role in the local production of vehicles for the NEUE KLASSE, and create around 2,000 new jobs in the region.

In preparation for the rollout of the NEUE KLASSE, BMW has created an entire electromobility ecosystem in China, spanning research and development, the supply chain and production of batteries and electric vehicles.

With facilities in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Nanjing, the company has built the biggest research and innovation network outside of Germany. 

BMW has had a presence in the Chinese market since 1994, and founded the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture in May 2003. 

Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production, says: “From a small assembly facility with a limited number of units, our plants in Shenyang have developed into our largest production location worldwide. Today, 20 years after our joint venture’s initial start of production, I am delighted to announce local production of the NEUE KLASSE in China. Integration of the NEUE KLASSE into our production in China goes hand in hand with construction of a high-voltage battery assembly for the next, sixth generation of batteries and will make a significant contribution to further electrification of our lineup and, therefore, to our success as a company.”

More than half the vehicles the BMW Group sells worldwide should be fully electric before 2030.